Ask, Tell by E.J. Noyes

Plot: our heroine is a US Army surgeon deployed to Afghanistan and the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy is in place. She’s got the major hots for her boss, and is in a long term relationship back home. Imagine a few scenarios where Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell would be particularly bad, and you get the idea of what might be covered in this book.

I thought this was very good. It’s all written from our heroine’s perspective, and manages to convey just how shitty the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy was. Incredibly, it doesn’t feel like you’re being hit over the head with it, and although there is a happy ending it doesn’t take the really easy way out, or shy away from the reality of the policy or the situation the characters are in.

Good characterisation of the central character, and the others are well drawn enough you can believe they exist.

Be sure to say Ask, Tell, in a nice, gaspy voice with a good pause between each word, for full effect.